On 21 September, SDG Advocate Forest Whitaker gave a keynote address at the pledging conference for the Secretary-General\u2019s Peacebuilding Fund, which received $152 million in pledges at the event.<\/p>\n
Providing inspiring examples of young people working toward peace, Whitaker noted that \u201ctheir courage is the rule, not exception.\u201d In this context, Whitaker urged the audience to \u201cimagine what a tremendous force for good it would be if we invested as much time and money in their education and development as we do in fighting wars.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pledges cover the years 2017-2019 and will go toward projects the Fund underwrites in more than 20 countries with the aim of sustaining peace and preventing violent conflict. The event was co-hosted by the Governments of Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The conference sought pledges totalling $300 million over three years.<\/p>\n
The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) is a non-governmental organization with an international scope and reach, founded by Forest Whitaker in 2012. WPDI develops peace-building programs, initiatives and campaigns to foster peace and reconciliation in disadvantaged and fragile communities around the world, including in Africa, Latin America and the United States.<\/p>\n
Video of the pledging conference (Whitaker\u2019s address from 12:30):\u00a0https:\/\/goo.gl\/nQ8MxH<\/a><\/p>\n